Mumbai: Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), India’s largest provider of test preparation services for engineering and medical entrance examinations, has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Alka Garg as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Kanika Kumar Nijhawan as Senior Vice President – Marketing.
The appointments are aimed at reinforcing AESL’s financial strategy and brand growth initiatives, as the company continues to professionalise its management structure to drive accelerated growth and business excellence.
Ms. Alka Garg brings over 22 years of strategic and operational experience across listed enterprises and high-growth startups. She has worked closely with founders, CEOs and executive teams to drive enterprise value creation, scale profitability and enable sustainable growth. At AESL, she will lead the finance function, spearhead financial strategies, enhance operational efficiencies, strengthen governance frameworks and support the company’s long-term growth trajectory.
Prior to joining AESL, Garg served as Chief Financial Officer at Yum Restaurant India Pvt Ltd, where she played a key role in shaping financial strategy for the KFC brand in India and improving overall business performance. She has also held senior leadership roles at Siemens, GreyOrange, Bharti Airtel and Deloitte.
Ms. Kanika Kumar Nijhawan joins AESL with over 17 years of experience across media, retail and sports sectors, with expertise in brand development, strategic marketing, digital and performance marketing, and omnichannel engagement. She previously spent a decade at Adidas India as Director of Brand Marketing. Her earlier stints include roles at HT Media and Sony Entertainment Television.
Commenting on the new appointments of Garg and Nijhawan, Chandra Sekhar Garisa Reddy, Managing Director & CEO, Aakash Educational Services Limited stated, “We are thrilled to have both Alka and Kanika join the Aakash team. With Alka’s outstanding financial acumen and Kanika’s brand development skills, I am confident they will both be key agents in progressing our organisation while at the same time enhancing our commitment to providing high-quality education to all students in India.”
Alka Garg said in response to her appointment, “I could not be more excited to join Aakash Educational Services Limited at this exciting time in the company’s journey. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to continue to strengthen financial discipline, support sustainable growth, and provide long-term value to all stakeholders because AESL is well-known throughout the exam preparation industry.”
Kanika Kumar Nijhawan said, “I am very happy to be joining Aakash during this incredibly significant time of opportunity and potential and I look forward to forming a unique and powerful brand narrative, creating meaningful experiences for our students and parents, assisting in driving the youngest and fastest growing preparation segment in terms of exam preparation and continuing the company’s growth and leadership in the exam preparation industry.”
With these senior leadership appointments, AESL aims to further expand its national footprint, strengthen academic excellence and operational efficiency, and continue supporting students across India in achieving success in competitive examinations.
